ST. THOMAS, USVI – The Virgin Islands Department of Education’s Division of Cultural Education invites persons in the community to attend the first annual “A New Vision: Traditionalist and Preservationist Culture Bearers Impacting Students’ Learning” conference on August 29 at the Curriculum Center on St. Croix and September 2 in the ACC 1st Floor Conference Room at UVI St. Thomas. Both conferences will run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
According to Director of Cultural Education Valrica Bryson, the inaugural conference is designed to bring culture bearers together with the goal of instilling and promoting Virgin Islands’ culture among local youth. The one-day gathering will feature a host of workshops and is open to persons with the following skills:
Fish pot builders
Chicken coop builders
Basket weavers
Makers of local candies
Teachers of quadrille and Quelbe music
Mocko Jumbie
Stilt Walkers
Storytellers
Cariso singers
Cooks of local foods
Pottery makers
Woodworkers
Carnival costume makers
Tie-dying
Macramé
Bamboula dancers
African dancers
Float builders
Masqueraders
Makers of local instruments like the wash pan bass and others
Knowledgeable in local bushes and plants
The event is free and lunch will be served.
To register for the August 29 workshop on St. Croix, please call (340) 773-1095 x7032 or to register for the September 2 conference on St. Thomas, please call (340) 774-0100 x2806.
